Interview: CB Antonio Kanonu discusses transfer from Arkansas Baptist to Cisco C.C.

One of the biggest mysteries out of the junior college ranks in the 2016 class is Antonio Kanonu. The 6’0”, 165 pound, cornerback missed much of his prep career at Northside High School in Lafayette, Louisiana due to academic issues forcing an enrollment at Arkansas Baptist but not before college recruiters took note of his abilities via camps and 7×7 tournaments.

Kanonu redshirted in 2014 but has still managed to pick up offers from Utah State, UTEP, Western Kentucky, University of Texas San Antonio, and Troy. Some of the biggest college football programs in the nation are showing interest in the speedy defensive back but all are in wait and see mode. Some of the schools poking around include USC, UCLA, Arkansas, Clemson, Arkansas State, Memphis, Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, Florida, Oregon, TCU, Florida State, and LSU.

As officially announced via Recruiting News Guru on Twitter, when college coaches scout Kanonu in 2015 they will now have to head to Cisco Community College in Texas instead of Arkansas Baptist in Little Rock to see this rising star in action.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with Antonio to get the lowdown on the sudden change of schools.

Antonio, first, good luck with the change of schools. I hope the move turns out well for you.

“Appreciate you.”

So, what prompted the decision to transfer schools?

“I think that over there, I think that it’ll be better competition. I’d rather be in a place that develops their players well and has experience developing top players. I want to be surrounded by other top players.”

How did the conversation go with the coach at the new school? How was that initiated?

“Actually we, me and Richard (Lagow, Cisco starting quarterback), talked for a bit and he said they needed playmakers on their team. So I talked to Coach (Dionte) Dean, the head coach over there at Cisco. He said that he wanted to bring in a top cornerback that could start right away. When he said that, basically we talked a little bit about the program and the people that they have produced. I went ahead and made the decision knowing I could come in and make an immediate impact.”

A tougher conversation had to follow, the one with Coach Dean. How did the conversation go with your now former coach, Richard Wilson, when informing him you were leaving the program?

“Basically I told them, thank you for the opportunities that you have given me so far. I told him I was going to go ahead and go to another conference where there was talent surrounded in the whole conference. (Told him) I needed to be at a program that could develop me to my fullest potential.”

Was Coach Wilson understanding about your decision to leave the program?

“Uhm, he was understanding because he knows that the program he has is on the rise. They haven’t really dealt with a lot of top players. The majority of the players were Division-II players. I just told him that I needed to be at a program that was already established and experienced in handling top players and putting them into the Division-I level.”

Is it your understanding with Coach Dean that if you play well in camp you will be the Wranglers new starting cornerback?

“Yes, that’s exactly what he said.”

You’ve played some wide receiver in the past, I know you want to play corner strictly but after talking to Richard and Coach Dean is there any chance you will lineup at receiver for the Wranglers?

“Actually they already have a pretty good offense. We just talked about me playing corner and possibly playing safety. We haven’t focused on the offensive side yet. Their offense is established and have a pretty dominate offense. Right now they are trying to put the pieces together to make a dominate defense.”

When will you report to Cisco?

“I go in for the second summer session, that’ll be July 8. Fall camp is August 8. That’s when it begins.”

What are you most excited about heading to the new school?

“Just being around other top players and players that are better than me. Being around players that I can learn from. The sophomores that are there now, I’ll be able to learn from them. They have a really good coaching staff and the program is really good and on the rise. I think that is definitely what I am looking forward to, just being around other top players and being able to compete on the highest level.”

What will you miss most about Arkansas Baptist now that you are leaving?

“Probably my teammates. I didn’t really get to be with them that long. We kind of established a brotherhood. I think that will be the part that I’ll miss most, the brotherhood.”

I know Cisco plays Arkansas Baptist again this year. What will it be like playing against your former teammates in 2015?

“It’ll be very fun to be honest. I know there will be a lot of trash talking going on from the different players. We were very competitive when I was at Arkansas Baptist. I know me lining up on the other side will be very fun and competitive.”

Is there a wide receiver on the Arkansas Baptist squad you are looking forward to lining up against in the game?

“Any receiver, anybody they put in front of me.”

Looking at the rest of the schedule, are there any other teams you are looking forward to playing this year?

“I am most definitely looking forward to playing Northeastern Oklahoma. They have a lot of top players and they’re very arrogant. I want to play them the most to shut them up. I think that is the biggest game that I am looking forward to.”

Have you started notifying the Division-I coaches who recruit you that you are transferring yet?

“I’m going to start notifying them today.”

 

Photo credit: Antonio Kanonu; Antonio Kanonu with Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (right).